THIS WEEK
No. 1 UC Irvine at Concordia · Friday, Dec. 20 · 7:00 p.m. · CU Arena
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UCI will travel to Concordia on Friday (Dec. 20) for a 7:00 p.m. match in CU Arena to officially open the men's volleyball season.
The Anteaters will then host its annual Alumni match on Saturday (Dec. 21) beginning at 11:00 a.m. in Crawford Court.
Friday's match is a battle of reigning national champions with the Anteaters capturing the 2013 Division I National Championship and the Eagles claiming the NAIA national title.
Concordia went 25-7 in the first season of the program and won the NAIA National Champions last April with a 3-0 win over Park (MO).
Concordia is under the direction of first year head coach Shawn Patchell who was head coach at BYU from 2006-2010. Patchell earned his master's in English literature from UC Irvine in 2000.
The teams met last year in an exhibition match with UCI winning 3-2 in Crawford Court.
Outside hitter Connor Hughes led UCI against the Eagles with 16 kills and four digs. Outside hitter Jeremy Dejno added 11 kills, while middle blocker Scott Kevorken added eight kills, four aces and five block assists in the victory.
Looking ahead, the Anteaters will entertain an international double-header on December 28 in Crawford Court. UCI will take on the University of British Columbia at 2:00 p.m. then Red Deer College at 5:00 p.m.
For the second consecutive year, the UC Irvine men's volleyball team topped the AVCA Division I-II Men's Coaches Top 15 Preseason Poll.
The Anteaters garnered the most first place votes, but was ranked third in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Coaches' Preseason Poll.
Headlining the returning players are All-Americans Michael Brinkley and Collin Mehring as well as All-MPSF honoree Scott Kevorken and NCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player Connor Hughes. Seniors Jeremy Dejno and Daniel Stork, junior Zack La Cavera and sophomore Kyle Russell also return this season.
UC Irvine won its fourth NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship in the last seven years by sweeping BYU, 3-0 at Pauley Pavilion. The Anteaters previously won in 2007, 2009 and 2012.
UC Irvine was the first school to win back-to-back NCAA Championships since UCLA in 1995 and 1996.
UCI was 25-7 overall, the second most wins in the country last season. UCI finished second in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) with an 18-6 mark.
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